Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Tom Nilsson played for the Hanvikens SK youth club and appeared in five games with AIK’s U-16 team – with no points and 4 PMs.

2009-10: Nilsson spent the season with Mora splitting the year between the U-18 team at the Elitserien and Allsvenskan junior levels as well as playing three games at U-20. Scoreless in the three U-20 games, Nilsson played 35 games at the U-18 level and scored 11 goals with 9 assists and had 30 PMs.

2010-11: Nilsson spent the bulk of the season with Mora’s U-18 and U-20 teams and made his pro debut with Mora (Allsvenskan – Sweden’s second division) – playing three games in the regular season and ten more in the Kvalserien (relegation playoffs). While his offensive contribution wasn’t much of a factor, just one assist in 13 games, his physical, defensive play confirmed much of what scouts saw of him with Team Sweden at the 2011 World U-18 Championships. In six games, he had one assist but at times was Sweden’s most noticeable defenseman. In 37 games for Mora’s U-20 squad, he scored 2 goals with 6 assists and drew 26 PMs. In 12 contests with Mora U-18, he had 1 goal, 7 assists and 22 PMs. Though not listed among the top 140 European skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings, Nilsson was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 4th round (100th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft.

2011-12: Nilsson skated in 44 of 52 games for eighth-place Mora IK in Sweden’s AllSvenskan (second league). He scored 4 goals with 6 assists and was plus-ten with 45 penalty minutes. Nilsson played in 12 games with Mora’s U20 team, including 2 playoff games and had three assists. He represented Sweden in 10 international matches at the U19 and U20 levels but did not play in any world championship tournaments.

2012-13: Nilsson signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in March of 2013 following his second season in Allsvenskan with Mora. He played 42 games for Mora and also played for Sweden’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2013 World Junior Championship. Nilsson scored 1 goal with 3 assists and was -11 with 18 penalty minutes in Allsvenskan play, Mora finished eighth; missing the league playoffs. Nilsson had 2 assists and was +3 with 4 penalty minutes in six games at the WJC. Sweden lost to the USA, 3-1, in the gold medal game. Nilsson was loaned to Frolunda in Sweden’s SHL in April of 2013 and will spend the 2013-14 season with the club.

2013-14: Nilsson was loaned to Frolunda— skating in Sweden’s top league as a 20-year-old. He scored 2 goals with 2 assists and was -5 with 22 penalty minutes, averaging 18:30 minutes of ice time, in 50 regular season games. Frolunda finished second in the regular season before falling to Linkopings in seven games in a first-round playoff series. Nilsson averaged over 19 minutes of ice time in the playoffs, finishing -1 with no points and 2 penalty minutes.

Talent Analysis

Nilsson is a throwback, heavy body-checking, defensive defenseman who draws the ire of his opponents with his sometimes borderline legal, antagonistic play. Some scouts see elements of long-time NHL defenseman Ulf Samuelsson in his approach to the game, but he has not yet demonstrated the same offensive elements and instincts as Samuelsson. A right-handed shooting defenseman (somewhat rare among Europeans), Nilsson has a solid shot from the point.

Future

Nilsson was traded along with four other prospects by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the New York Islanders in exchange for Michael Grabner. He was waived by the Islanders in October 2015 for the purpose of being released from his contract and signed to play with Frolunda in the SHL for 2015-16.

Photo: Detroit Red Wings forward prospect Mattias Janmark-Nylen (#24), shown here in action with Sweden at the 2013 Karjala Cup, has been scoring a a point-per-game clip for AIK this season (courtesy of Janerik Henriksson/AFP/Getty Images)

The first quarter of the Swedish Hockey League’s 2013-14 season has come and passed, and there’s plenty to be happy about in the scouting community. The number of young, recently drafted players currently dotting the rosters of both SHL and Allsvenskan (second highest men’s professional league in Sweden) clubs is about as impressive as ever, as professional teams continue to have little concern about going to battle with line-ups that often only feature an average age of 23-25.

Photo: Now in his fourth season of junior hockey, Matt Finn is expected to be a leader for the Guelph Storm on and off the ice. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

The AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Marlies, are expected to ice a very youthful lineup for the 2013-14 season, comprised mostly of players aged 23 and under. The Marlies will welcome eight players who make their rookie debuts in the AHL.

Photo: Forward Frederik Gauthier was the first selection the Maple Leafs made in the 2013 NHL Draft. Gauthier is a big-bodied forward who plays a good two-way game. (courtesy of Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Slow and steady development remains the course of action for the Toronto Maple Leafs entering the 2013-14 season. With a patient approach to their draft picks over the last few seasons, the club is now in a large transition phase at the AHL level.

Photo: Defenseman Andrew MacWilliam recently signed an entry-level deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. MacWilliam spent the season playing for North Dakota. (courtesy of Scott A. Schneider/Getty Images)

The Maple Leafs have several prospects playing at the NCAA and European level. Tony Cameranesi boasts the most impressive season out of any NCAA prospect, while a strong performance from Swedish defenseman Tom Nilsson has earned him an entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs. All three of the Maple Leafs European prospects are Swedish.

Photo: Defenseman Morgan Rielly maintains his spot as the top prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rielly was selected 5th overall by the Leafs in 2012. (courtesy of Abelimages/Getty Images)

The shortened 2012-13 NHL campaign has seen the Toronto Maple Leafs use a number of developed players throughout the season. Eight players who are 26 years old or younger, have suited up for the Maple Leafs this season – all of them playing vital roles for the Toronto Marlies earlier this season . This is a testament to the process the Maple Leafs have implemented in recent years to develop and promote more prospects.